I Am the Night

Mama.

Mama, it's fine.

It's fine... when I say it's fine, okay?

Look You even scuffed up the shoes.

Go on. Take them off. Let me shine them.

It's just dust. Look. See?

All right. Hurry up, now. You're gonna be late.

Who needs school anyway?

You do.

You're not a loser like the rest of them.

You different than that!

Yeah. Well... I don't want to be different.

I just want to be normal like everybody else.

Just like you.

All right. Go on now.

Fix your sweater. Have a good day.

You too.

You gonna ask your mom?

Oh, yeah, right.

Yeah, that'll go over well.

Well, just ask her really nice.

You never get to go anywhere.

Boy, your mama keeps you on a short leash.

Well, yeah. She just hates being alone.

That's just how she is.

What do you think of Miss Mina's quiz'?

- I can't stand her. - Well, she is from Alabama.

Girl, you look sweet enough to put on my Corn Flakes.

Mm!

I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the republic for which it stands,

one nation under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.

Today we're going to look at six main factors

that caused the Industrial Revolution --

the rail system, steam power, coal extraction,

iron smelting...

Can I sit here?

You can sit wherever you like.

Well, I'm new here. I'm from Flor--

Oh, God. Mary Lou, don't sit here.

That's a Negro table. Come sit with us.

I've never seen one with that green of eyes before.

- What'd you get? - Tater tots.

[ Indistinct conversations, waves breaking]

Hey, be careful out here, Snow White.

- You're gonna catch fire. - Burning my eyes, hodad.

Has he ever walked on a beach before?

Nice socks!

Women in cages. It's gonna be amazing, baby.

- It's gonna be fantastic. - I know.

Hey! Fella!

What are you doing?!

Jerry! Jerry!

Hey!

Hey!

Come back here! What are you doing?!

Come back here!

Hey! Stop!

- Who the hell is that guy? - Get him. Get him.

Son of a bitch!

Asshole! You're an asshole!

Get back --

You'll ruin me! You'll ruin me! Give me --

You ruined yourself, sweetheart.

Come on!

Why?! No! Please!

Don't you...

Who are you?! Please!

- - I'm nobody.

But you...

- Come back here! -...you wanted to be famous.

[Junior Walker and the All Stars' "Shotgun" playing]

Are them the new Mary Janes with the T-strap?

Oh, yeah. Mama got them.

I had to wear something to make me smile today,

what with that quiz Miss Comiskey gave and all.

Ain't she a nasty old cow, though?

- Yeah. -

I I said shotgun I

What you smiling at, girl?

What the hell you smiling at?

You been spending time with Lewis?

That's what it is?

So that's your man now'?

Well, yeah, we've been spending some time --

Bitch, he ain't. You ain't even...

Light-skinned bitch think you all that, and you ain't.

I'm gonna see if that light skin scratch off.

I'm gonna see if that blood is black.

Screw you, Sharon, you coconut.

Take it up with Lewis where he spends his time.

I'm gonna see if that blood is black.

Come on, Sharon. She ain't doing nothing.

Just let it go, girl.

Don't go crying, baby-

You gonna fink to your mama?

Pat, you know what she like.

She's always been so boy crazy.

Look.

Yeah, I see. That's him.

Yeah. I told you. He never stays long.

Just looking, a couple minutes.

Creep.

Snap case. Why he looking at you?

I don't know. I didn't do nothing.

Shit. You done something.

L Qot to go.

- Bye, girl. - See ya.

Yeah. They -- They were right there.

Right -- Right where -- where you said they'd be.

That's great, kid. I mean, that was a smart play.

Coming back from the beach, huh?

She'll be back in Iowa in 24 hours.

Jay?

- Jay, you there? - Yeah.

Bring 'em in now, why don't you?

You know, if they're good, that's a grand easy.

See what the run ends up being.

I mean, if I break a hundred, you'll see it, I promise.

Uh...

I, uh...l...

I didn't get them.

What?

- What did you say? Sorry, Jay. - Yeah --

It sounded like you said you didn't get them.

Uh, yeah. I did-- I did-- I didn't get them.

I didn't get the shots. The, uh...

The, uh... the camera got smashed.

You stupid son of a bitch!

You clown!

You -- You get a new camera and you go back there, idiot.

- You stupid son of a bitch! - Sal -- Sal! Shut up!

Shut up. Just shut up.

Shut up.

I got the pictures. I was kidding.

I'm bringing them in. Here I come.

I was kidding.

[Woman speaking indistinctly on P.A. ]

Pat. Psst.

Sorry for spotting your floor.

That's all right.

Why'd you go so quick? I would've walked with you.

I didn't want to be late.

You're gonna get us both fired.

- Sister Sarah's watching. - Oh, poo Sister Sarah.

You knocking off at 7:00? I'll walk you home.

Yeah. Don't let my mama see.

Now, your mama is a whole different story.

Okay. See you at 7:00.

My cousin's got a good job for me

over at the auto shop on Centinela -- full time.

Are you gonna drop out?

Maybe.

My cousin's paying me $37 a week.

I can get my own place.

I could live with you, be your woman.

Crazy. You're too young.

- Well, I could lie. - Shoot.

The preacher or the justice gonna want a birth certificate

-or something. - Then I'll change it.

You know, I just want to be with you and get married,

be your woman.

Come on. You're dreaming.

You're all I dream about.

What do we got?

Hey, are you okay?

Has this colored boy been bothering you?

No, sir.

Rm colored, sir.

[Woman speaking indistinctly on radio]

You're colored?

Yes, sir.

I'm...I'm mixed race.

My mother, she's Negro.

And I live with her over in East Sparks.

Uh-huh.

Hey!

She's colored.

Get out of here.

I said get going.

Get!